The National tribune., 1887-07-28


bf these visits, and while signing himself rs
AColonel commanding" he for some trivial
nilair placed Mai. Avery in arrest and ordered
him 10 his tent The Major Immediately
made out in regular form requisition on
Col Fitzpatrick, commanding the brigade,
for three polzer-payers and demgohn OF
whisky The requisition was dispatched
10 brigade headquarters, and word returned
That ii would receive the attention its inn
oorlance demanded. The afternoon wore
away until about : o'clock, when, as the
Major and myself sat together in his tent,
fle canvas was thrown back and the diminu-
-sive form of Col Fitzpatrick stood before us.
In that peculiar drawl OF language belong
Sng 10 him he said
"Well, Avery, your requisltion has been
filed where do you want the delivery
madegn
fright here, Colonel; bring them along"
Following came Capts. Grinton and sny-
der, OF the Harris Light Cavalry, and behind
these big darly with a demiiohn Of whisky.
That demiiohn! where did ii come from?
II was n surprise to Mai. Avery that his
reouisition should have been so literally
filed.
"Well," said Fitzpatrick, lets get TO
business right away; how much money have
tOu GOT Avery
"sEvEN Or EIGHT DOLLARS"
was the response.
A look Of disgust came over the Colonel's
face rs he said:
"Fiddlesticks! that amt enough for an
ante. We'd better 60 back TO camp" turning
10 the officers.
"Bstter take what I've got" said the
Major. somewhat indiflerently; perhaps j
can get some more when that's gone!"
The four ranged themselves around the
little table, and the preliminaries all having
been arranged, the battle began, and was
continued throughout the night and until
after the bugles had sounded reveille. Then
ihe worn and disguised trio called for their
horse and took their departure with heavy
eyes and light pockets.
might have known better than to have
set down TO play with beggar anyway"
remarked the Colonel.
"I'll loan you enough TO buy something
for your mess If you want il, Colonel, said
ahe Major; but the offer was respectfully
declined, and the party rode away, promising
revenge at some future time.
Some time in the early part Of April court
martial found a man guilty of desertion, and
he was sentenced to have his head shaved, be
branded, drummed out Of camp and to serve a
specified time in penitentiary. The division
was drawn up, dismounted IN a hollow square
on ine, Level plot of ground. One side of the
square was left open, and through this opening
the prisoner was marched to the center, where
ONE SIDE OF HIS HEAD
was shayen close. While this was being done
q forge had been driven into the Enclosure, and
near 10 the spot where the culprit was seated
and large letter d brand was heated TO red
heat. The man was then conducted TO the
forge, where his naked hip was exposed and
the red-hot brand applied. A slight scream,
accompanied by high Jump, and the insepara-
bile reminder that the man was a deserter was
fastened upon him. He was then marched
around the Enclosure so near to the line that
every man had an opportunity of taking q
"short-range view of his physognomy. The
ceremony was impressive, and carried with it a
lesson in military discipline that no doubt had
q salutary effect.
On the sth day of April the Cavalry Corps
numbered about IL 600 men for duty. OF this
number about 900 were engaged in the Stone
man raid. One brigade, under Gen. PleasOn-
fon, was left with the Army Of the Potomac !;
Che balance were on various kinds of service.
The force present was reviewed by the President
and Gems Hooker and Stoneman on the nights
nearly opposite Fredericksburg. The excel
lent appearance of the troops justified the hope
tbANA AdliiNA -. lAt lNciNtuN duN 0Cus 1lubhNi
that they would contribute largely TO the sue
cess of the campaign soon to be open.
Every requisite for success seems to have
been at Gen. Stoneman's disposal. The humil-
Eating result Of that campaign, In which the
cavalry bad hoped to remove the unjust odium
attached 10 il for inaction, was due wholly TO
the vacilatiOn and indecision of its COM
mander. Valuable time was frittered away
aud opportunities lost that gave promise of
MOST FRUITFUL RESULTS.
stOnemans raid, SO loudly proclaimed through
the newspapers at the time as the breaking OF
the backbone OF the COnfederacy," etc, was q
very weak affair, barren Of profitable results,
because lacking In concentration and bOldness.
One Of the illustrated journals Of the day rep
resented Gen. Stoneman on fiery steed, with a
saber in bis left hand, extended heavenward,
leading an imaginary host to victory,
Gen. Stoneman received orders for the move
ment on tho 10th Of April, and crossed the
Rappahannock with his corps on the 29th of the
same month. The closing words of instruction
from Gen. Hooker, commanding the Army OF
The Potomac, were as follows:
IL devolves upon you, General 10 take the inita-
live ln the forward movement Of this grand army,
aud on you and your noble command must depend
In great measure the extent and brlliRncy OF our
Success Bear in mind that celerity, audacity and
resolution arc everything In war, and especially il
Al tlIe case with the command you have and The
lad these instructions been vigorously pur.
sued, one is led into the realm of speculation
ms % what might have been the result; but witt
an active, determined force OF this magnitude
operating in his rear, it is reasonable TO sup
pose that a considerable force would have beer
detached by Gen. Lee 10 attend 10 il, while TIA,
amount Of damage done to Lees lines Of com
munication and supply
WOULD HAVE BEEN IECALcULABLE
On the 18th of April the corps was encampec
near Morrisyille, ready to cross al Eelley't
Ford in the morning. My diary, relating {,
the movements Of my own regiment, is as fol
lows:
Monday, April 10, 1sG3.-Ordes 10 be n
readiness 10 march at 6 a. IN. All the sick q
be left behind, 10 report al Camp OF Harri
Llght. After the usual delay Of an hour o
more the regiment was formed IN line, and tool
position on the left Of the brigade. Bade fare
well 10 our old parade ground and encampmen
at a. m. and started on the march, After
march Of about 80 miles encampod for the nigh
an an oak grove. Lieut.-Col. Irvine In com
mand Of the regiment. BY order Of Col Xii
patrick, commanding the brigade, Maj Kempel
with three squadrons, was sent 10 picket Ellis
Ford Maj. Waters, with one squadron, wa
sent to picket the road In our rear The II
mander OF regiment ia reserve. Roads i
good condition"
NeIt morning, at an early hour, Gen. Bu
lord attempted crossing with his division {
keliy's Ford, while our (6regg's) division at
yanced UP the river 10 near Rappahannoc
Station.